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HOUSING & ECONOMIC <br />DEVELOPMENT (111) <br />Introduction <br />While the provision of housing is predominantly a private sector, market- driven activity, all <br />levels of government - federal, state and local - have a role to play in facilitating the <br />production and preservation of affordable housing in Minnesota.' <br />Metro Cities' housing policies recognize and support the intergovernmental nature of this <br />issue - including participation from federal, state, regional and local governments. Cities <br />are responsible for much of the ground -level housing policy in Minnesota - including land - <br />use planning, building code enforcement, and often times the packaging of financial <br />incentives. However, the State and Metropolitan Council must also play a major role by <br />empowering local units of government and providing a variety of funding programs and <br />tools. <br />111 -A City Role in Housing <br />In the state of Minnesota, the provision of housing is predominantly a private sector, <br />market- driven activity. However, all cities facilitate the development of housing via <br />responsibilities in the areas of land -use planning, zoning ordinances and subdivision <br />regulations. Many cities take on a significant administrative burden in order to play an <br />additional role by providing financial incentives and regulatory relief, participating in state <br />and regional housing programs and supporting either local or countywide Housing and <br />Redevelopment Authorities. Cities are also responsible for ensuring the health and safety of <br />local residents and the structural soundness and livability of the local housing stock via <br />building permits and inspections. <br />Metro Cities strongly opposes any effort to reduce, alter or interfere with cities' authority <br />to carry out these functions in a locally determined manner. <br />III -B City Role in Affordable and Life Cycle Housing <br />Metro Cities' supports both affordable housing and housing that is appropriate for people <br />at all stages of life. A variety of housing opportunities are important to the economic and <br />social well being of individual communities and the region. Cities can facilitate the <br />production and preservation of affordable and lifecycle housing by: <br />■ Applying for funding from applicable grant and loan programs; <br />■ Working with developers and local residents to blend affordable housing into new and <br />existing neighborhoods; <br />2011 Legislative Policies 13 <br />